Sterilising

[vlooby]

Hi all,
My little one will hit 6 months in a fortnight which coincidentally is the first time we are leaving her for any length of time with my parents.
She is usually bf but has a bottle per day, quite often formula.

We will be giving my parents some ready made formula to give her, so that it is easier for them but I wasn't sure about sterilising bottles? We are all staying in a premier inn fir the weekend but they'll probably also be out and about with her. We can have 2 sterile bottles for them, but what is the best / easiest way for them to resterilise them.....or is it even necessary at 6 months?

Thanks

[MrsBartlettforthewin]

by six months I wouldn't get to worried about sterilising as long as the bottles have a good clean in hot soapy water you'll be fine.

[vlooby]

Brilliant! That'll make life easier for them. Thanks

[MrsBartlettforthewin]

No problem.

[Bluebelltulip]

After 6 months it is still recommended that you sterilise bottles as milk is more likely to grow bacteria in the hard to reach places than water in a beaker for example. For a short period you could wash them then put them in the sink with boiling water from the kettle in the hotel room.

[Blueroses99]

Cold water sterilise with Milton tablets - just take a tub and the sterile water lasts for 24 hours but it takes just 15 minutes to sterilise the bottles.

As to whether sterilisation is still required at 6 months, I can't comment as my DD is younger.

[elephantconga]

It's still required. Basically until they're on cow's milk as formula always goes hand in hand with sterilisation. Milton could work, or could you ask in advance to use a microwave in order to use a microwave steriliser or bag? Or take your steam steriliser if you have one? Or use disposable teats that screw onto some brands of ready made bottles? Or buy a couple of extra 99p basic baby bottles?

[sphinxster]

As pp have said, you need to sterilise when using formula. Milton tablets are great or just boiling water.

[welshweasel]

We used sterilising bags (from boots/amazon). Essentially it's cold water sterilising but more convenient. Each heavy duty plastic bag has tablets in the bottom. You fill with tap water and hang on a hook/door handle. You can use for 24 hours and just leave the bottles in there until needed.

[kel1234]

It's recommended to sterilise at long as a baby is having formula. I've I let ever cold water sterilised. I hate Milton tablets so I use the Milton fluid and the Milton cold water steriliser (it's a plastic square tub). They also do a Milton solo, which is a travel steriliser, that fits 1 bottle at a time (word of advice though, it is not designed to be carried full, as it leaks. You have to fill it up when you arrive).
Milton sterilises in 15 minutes and there is no need to rinse. Only way I'd ever sterilise. And you can put literally anything in it.

[wintertravel1980]

NHS recommends to sterilise bottles for as long as babies are having formula but most other medical bodies (e.g. AAP in the US) no longer believe sterilisation adds any benefit. Of course, they still recommend that people make bottles with warm water to kill bacteria in formula powder. I am pretty sure NHS will eventually revise its guidelines to follow AAP.

I would not bother with sterilisation post 6 months when on holidays.

[IndianaMoleWoman]

You can get pre-sterilised disposable bottles, these could be an option as it's such a short amount of time and they're pretty cheap. We've used them on days out when we suddenly realised no one had remembered to pack a clean bottle/pick up the change bag! You can get them at Boots and larger supermarkets.

[vlooby]

Thanks everyone. She is pretty fussy about what teen she'll accept, so to be on the safe side, I'll look into some kind of cold sterilisation.